The extent of Britain’s economic fightback over the last year will be underlined today when official figures are expected to show the best annual pace of growth since 2007.

Economists expect that data from the Office for National Statistics will have shown a fourth consecutive quarter of gross domestic product (GDP) expansion though this may have slowed to 0.7% after notching up 0.8% in the previous period.

Even so, it should mean overall growth of 1.9% for 2013 following a limp increase of just 0.3% for the whole of the previous year. The economy grew by 3.4% in 2007.

ROYAL HOUSEHOLD FINANCES CRITICISED

The Queen’s Royal Household could be doing more to reduce its costs and increase income, and needs to get a firmer grip on a backlog of property repairs, a Commons committee has said.

The household also needs to plan and manage its budget better for the long term, a report by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) recommended.

Margaret Hodge, the PAC’s chairman, also criticised the Treasury for failing to be more actively involved in reviewing the household’s financial planning and management.

ALZHEIMER’S LINK TO DDT EXPOSURE

Past exposure to the banned pesticide DDT is “strikingly” linked to the development of Alzheimer’s in later life, a study has shown.

People with the highest levels of DDT residue in their blood were four times more likely than average to succumb to the devastating disease, scientists found.

While experts urged caution over the results, laboratory tests have identified a plausible way that pesticide chemicals might trigger Alzheimer’s-related changes in the brain.

ROACHE TO TAKE STAND IN SEX TRIAL

Coronation Street star William Roache will give evidence in court today as the defence case starts in his sex assault trial.

The 81-year-old actor will enter the witness box to defend himself against a series of allegations outlined during his trial, now in its third week.

A large number of reporters have been present each day and the public gallery is expected to be full with media and members of the public as Roache speaks for the first time under oath at Preston Crown Court.

The 68-year-old denied being a sexual predator - stating he simply has a “cuddly nature” - when he gave evidence in his trial at Southwark Crown Court in London yesterday.

The former Radio 1 disc jockey took to the stand for the first time, having heard two weeks of allegations against him from former colleagues and fans.

SPYMASTERS SWOOP ON ANGRY BIRDS

British and American spy agencies use mobile phone applications such as the game Angry Birds to gain access to users’ personal data, leaked documents revealed.

GCHQ, the Government’s listening post, and the US National Security Agency (NSA) are using smartphone applications to gather private details such as age, gender and location, as well as contacts and websites visited.

Some applications can even share sensitive information, such as sexual orientation, marital status and income, it was claimed.

APPLE REVENUE SOARS BUT SHARES SLIP

New products helped post record revenue figures for Apple during the last quarter - though company shares slumped dramatically in after-hours trading.

Shares dropped by as much as 7.5% in the 30 minutes after trading in the US, as its lofty iPhone sales predictions fell slightly short of initial predictions.

It was the first period fully taking into account sales of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, as well as marking the launch of the iPad Air and iPad mini.

MOTHERS IN ’BENEFITS CAP’ CHALLENGE

Three single mothers and their children are challenging the legality of the Government’s flagship “benefit cap” policy in the Court of Appeal.

Two High Court judges, who ruled in favour of the Government, conceded that the mothers were “particularly hard cases”.

But they decided new capping regulations introduced by Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith did not breach human rights laws and were not disproportionate.

MP LOUGHTON TO SPEAK ABOUT SPAT

A high-profile spat involving an MP, his constituent and the police will be discussed before MPs today.

The Privileges Committee will hear from both Tory MP Tim Loughton and Sussex Police Chief Constable Martin Richards after the politician complained about being issued with a harassment warning.

Former education minister Mr Loughton originally complained about a constituent in his seat of East Worthing and Shoreham as a “nightmare”.

JOBCENTRE ADVICE HAPHAZARD, SAY MPs

The way claimants’ benefit needs are dealt with by jobcentres is “haphazard” and prone to missing crucial information about barriers to work, the Government has been told.

A committee of MPs said key performance indicators used by Jobcentre Plus (JCP) should immediately be revised to help people into work, not just off benefits.

The Work and Pensions Committee called for a more thorough initial assessment of a claimant’s barriers to employment so that those facing the biggest challenges received the most support.